Green Bay Back To The Super Bowl, Led By Defense

The game's first drive started out the way that all the "experts" said that it would, Aaron Rodgers finding Greg Jennings a couple of times for big gains, well timed and blocked run plays, and a touchdown for the Packers, 7-0. That was supposed to happen for most of the game, just Rodgers and Packers domination. Then it was 14-0 as the Packers were moving the ball, and it seemed like this one was going to be like last week in Atlanta. Then the Bears defense started playing, and Brian Urlacher would not let this game get away from them.

From that point on Aaron Rodgers was intercepted twice, and the Bears defense did not give up any more points. The Packers were still able to move the ball a little bit, but the Bears and their defense were not going to let this game be lost by them. They took the Packers best hit and said 'oh no, we are still here.' Problem is the offense for the Bears could not do the same, and that's because the Packers defense had something to say about this game too.

Jay Cutler left the game early in the third quarter because of an injury to his knee that will get an MRI, but before that he was not exactly effective. He threw for only 80 yards and was picked off once, for a nice quarterback rating of about 30. Todd Collins came in for a couple of drives, only to be taken out because of terrible play, and in comes Caleb Hanie.

Hanie was able to get the job done to a certain extent though, leading both of the touchdown drives for the Bears, making it a game again. The Packers defense was not going to lose this game to the third string quarterback though after how they had manhandled the first two. In between those two touchdowns Hanie did throw another touchdown, only it was taken in by 337 pound defensive tackle B.J. Raji on a Packer interception. The game winner as it turned out.

That was not the only play made by the Packers though, rookie Sam Shields also picked off Hanie on their final drive attempt to cement the win, and the Packers their fifth trip to Super Bowl Sunday. The Packers took a knee and that was all she wrote.

This was a defensive game through and through, and both of them played extremely well. The Bears were able to take the Packers punches early and then completely shut down the hottest team and offense in the NFL, and do it rather convincingly. The Packers were the defense that made the plays for the win though, as that pick six was what won this game for Green Bay, and what sets up a date with the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Super Bowl that will be rich in tradition.

The efforts of Brian Urlacher can not go unmentioned though, as he was everywhere on the field, and did everything possible to get his team the win. If he could have played quarterback he might have. Urlacher not only intercepted Aaron Rodgers on a huge play in the red zone, bu he had 10 tackles, nine of which were solo, a pass deflection, and a sack in the first half that forced the Packers out of field goal range and had to punt. He was a beast on the field, and it is a shame that he had to walk off the field without a win.